Blueprint for a Transformation
It’s becoming apparent that the people who get results with their diet and training programs usually have the least to say about it.
I had to go through it too
I’ve noticed a pattern with our contest winners and all of the guys (and girls) who make the decision to finally change their bodies once and for all…and the pattern is this:
The beginning of the transformation = Out of Shape Skeptic
Before they do anything they start out very skeptical, they spend an inordinate amount of time reading about diet and fitness thinking they are ‘educating’ themselves when in reality they’re just becoming more confused and paralyzed with information overload.
This is not surprising considering most of the ‘information’ they’re reading is actually just marketing that is not rooted in science or fact. In reality what they’re reading is a collection of anecdotes, logical fallacies and nonsensical analogies to twist half truths into reasonable sounding arguments, and in many cases totally ridiculous sounding arguments (insert blood type diet, macrobiotics, bulking cutting, metabolic typing and on and on)…sigh, it never ceases to amaze me what some people will believe.
At this stage these people are quite opinionated and aren’t afraid to tell others what to do (even though they are out of shape and in no position to be a role model for anyone)
At this point they’re argumentative and seem to have the contrarion opinion to everything. As far as they’re concerned, they’re right and everyone else is wrong (I suppose somewhere in the back of their mind they’re doing this to justify why they’re still out of shape)
BUT of course there is also a place in their mind that is entirely unsatisfied with their body and really wants to make a change.
At some point they start to learn that talk is cheap and it’s time to either put up or shut up.
This is the turning point when words become action, and a single minded desire to succeed becomes the marching orders for each day.
The never ending list of excuses as to why they’re still out of shape despite their vast ‘knowledge’ from all the marketing…err…information they have read fades away and is replaced by solutions and positive action towards real results.
Simply Amazing!
The urgency to make something happen NOW sets in and becomes a driving force…and the harsh reality that “tomorrow” never comes sets in.
They finally understand that you cannot start a transformation “tomorrow”…there is no such thing as “tomorrow”…it has to start TODAY.
Now the real transformation has begun.
Mind and body are moving in a singular direction, and make no mistake, a transformation is always both mind and body.
The final and most interesting thing that happens is the newly transformed person has much less to say, is less argumentative and spends less time ‘preaching’ to others.
This is ironic considering it is at this point that they finally truly know what it takes to transform and get into great shape (if there ever was a time for them to be argumentative and ‘preachy’ it is now!)
However they’ve also learned one other critical lesson along the way…and that is it’s impossible to teach another person how to transform if that person is not ready to be a student.
Ali never argued, but she sure did transform!
Ohh the irony!
Instead a degree of quite confidence becomes part of their new mind as they now know what it takes to have the body they’ve always wanted. They end up with a secret to share that almost nobody is willing to hear!
This general pattern describes almost everyone I have ever coached through a transformation.
And with that said, it’s time for the next group of willing students to step up and become the new group of exceptional people to make the decision to transform.
The fourth Adonis Transformation Contest starts Jan 19th and the first Venus Index Transformation Contest also starts on the 19th.
For all those exceptional Adonis Index men who’ve already achieved an exceptional shape we will be accepting entries for the first ever Adonis Index Open Contest on the final day of the transformation contest on April 13th.
It’s officially PUT UP OR SHUT UP TIME!
John
15 Responses to “Blueprint for a Transformation”
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January 10th, 2011 at 10:12 am
wow John, that first picture is crazy! How long ago was that taken, and did you even work out then? Nice transformation….
January 10th, 2011 at 10:58 am
cool how do we enter the Transformation Contest/requirments/details.
thanks
January 10th, 2011 at 11:48 am
It’s always the out-of-shape ones that preach to even the in-shape ones. I find that just as ironic.
January 10th, 2011 at 12:10 pm
It’s over 2 years ago…yes I did workout and I had a fair bit of muscle in that pic…but clearly it was all buried under a significant layer of fat.
January 10th, 2011 at 10:31 pm
John,
That describes me pretty well. I’m not sure I agree with this statement though “I suppose somewhere in the back of their mind they’re doing this to justify why they’re still out of shape”. With me, I genuinely bought into the marketing BS. It installed an almost paralyzing fear in me of losing muscle, which is ironic considering I don’t have very much muscle in the first place (I was a really skinny kid so I’m guessing I’m more of an ectomorph).
I’m still not in great shape but I’ve stopped lecturing people since reading your blog and making good progress. Now I know that it’s really a lot simpler than most people think. I also know that it’s almost impossible to convince them of that so I don’t bother trying. They have to find out for themselves. Most of the people I know who are overweight have one or more of these three major limiting beliefs.
1. Fear of losing muscle – so by trying to eat 300 – 500 cals or 10% below maintenance, they end up over eating. This also makes people worried about missing meals.
2. Think that exercise is the best way to lose weight.
3. Overeat on “healthy foods” and think they are “being good”.
Your blog has been as much an education on critical thinking as it has health & fitness. I no longer blindly believe anything I read particularly from people without relevant credentials.
Cooper
January 10th, 2011 at 10:34 pm
I also 2nd the question about the transformation contest. Are you going to do another blog post on how to sign up and when to sign up by? Do you have info on how to measure muscle index? I’d like to do that before the start of the contest.
Also, I have Adonis 2.0 but as usual, I never got around to putting it into practice. Do I need to purchase Adonis 3.0 for the contest?
Cooper
January 11th, 2011 at 2:17 am
The irony is when you’re in the kind of shape that draws attention, you get the most questions from strangers without ever seeking it.
On the other hand, there are several “used to be in shape” older guys at the gym who LOVE to give free advice…
January 11th, 2011 at 7:10 am
The funny thing with unsolicited advice is that it’s unsolicited. As in “nobody asked for it”. That’s why I try not to talk too much about this kind of stuff. Only if asked or if I see someone in danger of injuring themselves.
January 11th, 2011 at 9:36 am
JB this is like a pre-game speech from Lou Holtz…great points and I can’t believe that before pic of you. You’re insight into things is spot on, I couldn’t agree more. Great post.
January 11th, 2011 at 11:33 am
“3. Overeat on ‘healthy foods’ and think they are ‘being good.’”
As long as people don’t understand that body fat only comes from unburned calories, people will continue to overeat on “healthy foods” because they genuinely think the more “healthy foods” they eat, the healthier they’ll be. Blows my mind.
January 11th, 2011 at 1:19 pm
So true, your articles are just pure gold. I’m glad that I’ve started training with AI tha last year. As you described in the article, I was reading and reading stuff and thinking I’m transforming. When I was actually working out or whatever it was just based on the advice I would read in magazines and bodybuilding forums. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to listen to people like you before, I just thought that the big bulky guys on the forums are right. BTW big difference between your before and after pictures.
Greg
January 11th, 2011 at 4:26 pm
Awesome transformations.
John,
What is your opinion of direct neck work, and if I have calves about 1/2 inch bigger than my arms, would you recommend cutting back on calf work (IDK how much bigger I can grow my arms)?
January 17th, 2011 at 8:16 am
Nice bulked-up picture, JB. Bulking really does build muscle, doesn’t it?
But in all seriousness, that’s the reason I hate New Year’s Resolutions. People look at it as a beacon of hope, as a coming of the date when they finally take action.
In reality, they’re using it as an excuse to procrastinate.
It’s really refreshing that your AT4 contest is judged not only on the extent of the transformation, but also the final look.
That way, we have no excuse of waiting for the date when the transformation contest starts. The sooner we start, the easier it becomes for us to submit a smashing “after” look.
It also makes it all the more harder to win… but the victory all the more sweeter, too =p
February 11th, 2011 at 9:54 pm
I never purchased Adonix Indez Program, and I have four questions about it that I do not know where else to post:
(1) how often does one train when on the AI program?
(2) is AI Program a long-term program? or only a set number of months and then one moves on to a different program?
(3) how long does each training session last on average, includng warm-up and cool-down?
(4)finally, what equipment does the program require using?
THANKS!!
JLMA
January 2nd, 2012 at 10:12 am
[...] years until he decided to try the contest and the workout…and in as little as three months he completely transformed his body. The only things he regrets is not trying this approach sooner and wasting two years of his life [...]